One of Chicago's 59 newest police officers lost a 3-year-old nephew to gang violence when he was a boy. Another worked with troubled children and wanted to do more to protect them. There was a former radiology technologist, an ex-banker and a host of military veterans.

They were all part of a class of recruits fresh out of the police academy who took part in ceremonies Thursday at Navy Pier, where they received certificates from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

After 12 weeks of field training, many will start walking beats on some of the toughest streets in the city.

Under a new initiative announced by McCarthy on Monday, rookie officers have been assigned to foot patrols in dangerous neighborhoods, part of what the superintendent called a "return to community policing."

Mark Gannon, 33, whose grandfather was on the police force, said he was "looking forward to the next step" after a tour in Iraq with the Marines.

"The jobs always change," Gannon said. "You need to be flexible, to be ready. And I feel that the academy trained us for that."

Other recruits said they look forward to connecting with residents of neighborhoods beset by crime.

"I think foot patrolling is probably one of the best methods because you're interacting with the community," said Kendra Archer, 34, the only African-American woman in the graduating class. She said Chicago's high homicide rate motivated her to join the department.

"Police already have a bad rap here in Chicago, or let's say around the country," she said. "Being visible, being able to talk to people as a regular person and them being able to know you, you will possibly build trust in the community. And I think that's what Chicago needs."

Archer, a former therapist who worked with abused and neglected children, is set to start field training this week with a veteran officer in Gresham District. Archer grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, not far from Gresham, and said she's not worried about safety.

"I'm familiar with the area. It's not far from my current neighborhood," she said, adding that she had requested to be assigned to the Gresham District. "I'm familiar with the streets and what goes on in those streets."

Archer's father, Narva Tigue, 59, was proud of his daughter but also worried.

"I told her, 'Be careful, those are some rough neighborhoods,'" Tigue said. "You'll always be concerned, but that's part of the job."

Aaron Hester, 27, knows how violence can affect the families of victims. In 1994 his 3-year-old nephew, Kevin Taylor Jr., was shot and killed as he rode in a car with his grandfather in the South Shore neighborhood. That crime, which police said was the result of a case of mistaken identity, ultimately contributed to Hester's decision to become a cop.

"That has pretty much been driving me to try to make a difference, try to reduce gang violence, gangs, pretty much reduce anything that's harmful to people," Hester said.

Many of the new officers said they had only recently learned of the initiative to put rookie cops on foot patrols. Robert Rialmo, 23 and also a Marine veteran, said he didn't know what to expect.

"I'm really anxious, I'm nervous, I'm excited, all of the above," said Rialmo, who will receive his field training in the Austin District.

Like the other recruits, Rialmo said he wants to play a role in improving life in Chicago.

"I feel like I was given the opportunity to grow up in a nice neighborhood, you know, have a good family, have a good background," said Rialmo, who grew up in Edison Park on the Northwest Side. "And I feel like if I can do that for some other people, that's what I should be doing."